PETER II OF RUSSIA: (1715-1730)

PETER II OF RUSSIA: (1715-1730) Emperor of Russia 1727-30. Grandson of Emperor Peter the Great. Orphaned at the age of two, his mother died ten days after giving birth and his father, imprisoned by his own grandfather Peter the Great, died in prison in 1718. When Peter the Great died in 1725 he was succeeded on the throne by his second wife, Catherine I who also died two years after, leaving the eleven years old Peter, although ignored and kept till then in seclusion, as the only male-line grandson of Peter the Great. Peter II reigned as Emperor of all Russias only for two years and half and died at the very early age of 14. Extremely rare L.S., Peter, as Emperor, two pages, folio, mourning paper, Moscow, 22nd November 1728, to Prince Karl Landgrave of Hesse, in Cyrillic. The letter written in bold black ink and in capital letters, bears the heading "By the Grace of God, We Peter II, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias...In the second year of our reign.", and is signed by Peter II in his capacity as Emperor and Autocrat of all Russias. Peter II sends the present letter reporting on the death of her sister Grand Duchess Natalia of Russia, who passed away three weeks earlier at the very early age of 21, and states in part `It was pleasing to Almighty God, according to His inevitable decree, to take His Majesty’s beloved sister Grand Duchess Natalia of Russia, who had endured several illnesses, from this earthly life into eternal joy and bliss on the twenty-second day at eight o'clock in the evening, thereby plunging Us into profound sorrow; and as We are assured, as always, of Your Highness’s love and friendship, that you will not only hear with reluctance of the loss that has befallen Us, but will also share Our friendly sorrow, so We sincerely wish that Almighty God will always graciously avert such sad and all other misfortunes from Your Lordship and from Your house, and will unfailingly maintain and favour you with His strong protection.´ Autographs of Peter II are extremely rare in any form as a result of his untimely death from smallpox at the young age of 14. Accompanied by the original and contemporary translation into German, folio, two pages, also in mourning paper, sent to Prince Karl Landgrave of Hesse. With blank integral leaf. Overall age wear, mostly to right and bottom edges and creasing, otherwise G

Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia (1714-1728) Grand.Duchess of Russia. Grand-daughter of Emperor Peter the Great, and elder sister of Emperor Peter II of Russia. She was the only siiter or brother of Peter II. She died in Moscow at the age of 14 of tuberculosis, unmarried and without issue.

Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse (1654-1730) Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel 1670-1730

Count Gavriil Ivanovich Golovkin (1660-1734) Russian Statesman who formally presided over Russian foreign affairs from 1706 until his death.